{"id":7615,"date":"2011-10-28T17:30:54","date_gmt":"2011-10-28T21:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.moviepropcollectors.com\/magazine\/?p=7615"},"modified":"2011-10-30T17:23:21","modified_gmt":"2011-10-30T21:23:21","slug":"profiles-in-history-to-auction-original-bela-lugosi-1931-dracula-cape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.moviepropcollectors.com\/magazine\/profiles-in-history-to-auction-original-bela-lugosi-1931-dracula-cape\/","title":{"rendered":"Profiles in History to auction original Bela Lugosi 1931 Dracula Cape"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"\"<\/a>I received this press release just in time for Halloween :).<\/p>\n

As part of their “ICONS OF HOLLYWOOD<\/em><\/a>” <\/strong>December 15, 16 & 17,<\/strong> auction house, Profiles in History has announced one of the many historic Hollywood items they will be auctioning will be “the” cape worn by Bela Lugosi in Universal Pictures 1931 film classic, “Dracula<\/em><\/strong>“.<\/p>\n

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PROFILES IN HISTORY TO AUCTION BELA LUGOSI’S
\nLEGENDARY 1931 “DRACULA” CAPE
\nHAPPY HALLOWEEN!<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n

CAPE AND OTHER ITEMS FROM THE LUGOSI FAMILY WILL
\nBE A PART OF PROFILES IN HISTORY’S
\n“ICONS OF HOLLYWOOD” AUCTION
\nDECEMBER 15, 16 & 17 AT
\nTHE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA IN BEVERLY HILLS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>OCTOBER 27, LOS ANGELES- Profiles in History, run by Joe Maddalena, is proud to present items up for auction from the vampire that inspired it all, Bela Lugosi. It was Hungarian-born Lugosi\u2019s portrayal as \u201cCount Dracula\u201d in\u00a0the 1931 Universal classic\u00a0Dracula<\/em>\u00a0that became the archetype for the character for generations to follow.\u00a0 Following the tremendous success in\u00a0Dracula<\/em>, Bela Lugosi became the quintessential horror actor.\u00a0 Among his horror roles, Bela played \u201cYgor\u201d in\u00a0Son of Frankenstein<\/em>\u00a0(1939); \u201cDr. Mirakle\u201d in\u00a0Murders In the Rue Morgue\u00a0<\/em>(1932); \u201c\u2019Murder\u2019 Legendre\u201d in\u00a0White Zombie\u00a0<\/em>(1932); \u201cSayer of the Law\u201d inIsland of Lost Souls\u00a0<\/em>(1932) and \u201cFrankenstein Monster\u201d in\u00a0Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man<\/em>\u00a0in 1943.<\/div>\n

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There are seventeen lots in all, consigned by none other than Bela\u2019s son, Bela Lugosi, Jr., and they have never before been available for sale.<\/div>\n
(\u00a9)Universal Studios 1931<\/div>\n

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When one hears the name “Dracula,” it is difficult to imagine anyone but Bela Lugosi wearing his signature mode of dress\u2014white tie and tails and a cape\u2014which he wore in the 1931 Universal\u00a0Pictures classicDracula<\/em>. The “Dracula” cape embodies the iconic horror figure and is now up for auction. The cape is screen-used and consigned by his son directly. Prior to his death in 1956, Bela Lugosi gave the cape to his wife of 20 years, Lillian Lugosi, and the mother of Bela Jr., telling her that it was the cape from the film and to keep the cape for his son.\u00a0 Upon Lugosi’s death in 1956, the family decided that he should be buried in his Dracula costume.<\/div>\n
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Given Bela Lugosi\u2019s wish that his son should have the cape, the family dressed the body in a lighter weight version of the cape he used when making personal appearances.\u00a0 Lillian retained the original 1931 cape and left it, along with her other possessions, to Bela Jr. upon her death in 1981.\u00a0 It has remained in his possession continuously.\u00a0 Without question, this\"\"<\/a> is the greatest single horror garment in cinema history. The auction pre-sale estimate is $1,500,000 – $2,000,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Other items from Lugosi’s family include, Bela’s own near mint\u00a0Dracula<\/em>\u00a0jumbo lobby card,\u00a0The Return of the Vampire<\/em>\u00a0original U.S. title-card, a U.S. title card from\u00a0Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein<\/em>, a selection of vintage photographs from the Lugosi family album, amongst others.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

These items join the only pair of screen used Ruby Slippers from\u00a0The Wizard of Oz<\/em>\u00a0left on the market. These iconic shoes are from the climax of the film and are estimated at $2,000,000-3,000,000. Also up for auction is the DeLorean from\u00a0Back to the Future III<\/em>\u00a0($400,000 – $600,000,) Marilyn Monroe’s wedding ring from her marriage to Joe DiMaggio ($300,000 to $500,000) and a Marilyn Monroe nude painting by Earl Moran ($70,000 to $90,000.) Stay tuned for the announcement of more iconic items up for auction.<\/div>\n
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All photos \u00a9 Profiles in History, Universal, The Bela Lugosi Family, & Movie Prop Collectors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n